Thursday, February 22, 2007

Other Items

ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007

HEALTHCARE-NOW!PRESENTSIN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

TWO FREE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONSAND BOOK SIGNINGSBY NOTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEDICAL SCHOLARS

Harriet Washington, a medical historian, will presenther groundbreaking work that uncovers the sordidhistory of medical experimentation on Africandescendants from colonial times to the present,including the current use of unethical methods toprovide health "care" to Black people. She will signher new book Medical Apartheid: The Dark History ofMedical Experimentation on Black Americans fromColonial Times to the Present.

Frederick Newsome, M.D., an attending physician atHarlem Hospital, will present his paradigm-shiftinganalysis and examination of unique and profound issuesregarding the meaning of clinical practice for theAfrican- descendant professional health provider. Hewill sign his new book An African American Philosophyof Medicine.

Ajamu Sankofa, a national organizer forHealthcare-Now! will offer brief remarks of why anational single-payer health system (H.R. 676) in theUnited States is urgently relevant to the quality oflife of all people of African descent residing in theUnited States.

Torian Easterling, a fourth-year medical student atthe University of Medicine and Dentistry of NewJersey, will moderate the event.

A U.S. helicopter crashed in an area north of Baquba City, 65 km northeast of Baghdad, on Thursday, the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite TV channel reported.The helicopter went down in a clash between gunmen and U.S. troops, the report quoted witnesses as saying, without specifying location of the crash.If confirmed, it would be the ninth U.S. helicopter crashed or shot down by insurgents' fire since Jan. 20, which has killed 28 soldiers and civilians so far.

A tentative new trial is set to begin on March 19, a symbolically important date as it will be four years from day the U.S. invaded Iraq. However, Lt. Watada's lawyer is hoping to invoke the principle of double jeopardy to argue that a second trial cannot lawfully take place.Just as many members of Iraq Veterans Against the War stood by Lt. Watada as he spoke before the Veterans for Peace convention, the organization stands by him now. Even though everyone in uniform is a volunteer, it is absurd to think that a contract can relinquish a human being of the responsibility to act in a just way. It is equally abominable to claim that service members should lack the right to free speech. Those who give up so much--time, energy, blood, sweat, and even their lives--to serve deserve the right to free speech more than anyone; service members have clearly given the most to earn free speech.Service members of all ranks have the right to contribute to the public debate on any war and to provide a tempering voice when issues of war are discussed. They have perspectives that are vastly more valuable than armchair punditry. And when they are ordered to carry out unjust acts and fight in immoral wars, if they choose to resist, they at the very least have the right to a fair defense.Yet, the Army is still attempting to prosecute Lt. Watada for speaking out about the Iraq War and for refusing orders. The silent majority of Americans opposed to the Iraq War must stand up and support Lt. Watada. Now is the time to praise the war's objectors as equally as we have praised the heroes who have fought and died. If we all had Lt. Watada's courage, we could finally facilitate an end to this war and steer our country toward a foreign policy based on cooperation, diplomacy, and a respect for international law.

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.